NHS Grampian has signed up for four places and EnerMech for
one place on the IT Management for Business course which begins next month.
They join a number of other businesses and organisations, including local
authorities, which have already signed up for the programme. Employers interested in this opportunity
should contact RGU urgently to secure one of the few remaining places by end of
August.

GLAs enable participants to earn a degree while working and
they are delivered in partnership with employers over the course of four years.
Much of the learning takes place in the workplace with active involvement from
the employers who sign a Collaboration Agreement with RGU to define how each
partner will support the apprentice during the course.

Professor John Harper, Deputy Principal at RGU, said: “We
are delighted that NHS Grampian and EnerMech have come on board in support of
the GLA initiative which represents a major milestone for the university and
for work-based learning opportunities in Scotland.

“GLAs represent an innovation across teaching and learning,
built around a structure which formally recognises the value of time in the
workplace as part of a learning environment.”

Developed by SDS in partnership with business, industry,
professional bodies and educational institutions, the GLAs are designed to give
employers the opportunity to participate in developing the employee skills that
they see as crucial to their business whilst also creating stronger links
between industry and education.

Shirley Smith, HR Director at EnerMech said: “We see the
introduction of the graduate apprenticeship scheme as a great way to improve
the skills base of our existing personnel. It also gives us the opportunity to
hire people straight from school and have them working in the business learning
all aspects while studying to achieve a degree.

“We currently employ engineers who have varying levels of
qualifications and experience. Having access to this gives us the ability to
develop our people and retain greater skills in the business for the future.”

Douglas Andrew, Learning & Development Manager, NHS
Grampian said: “This is a fantastic opportunity which is now available to
employees to be able to continue their personal development at an academic
level whilst continuing to work in their workplace.”